GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In a move that has reverberated through the West Michigan high school sports community, seven schools have broken away from the Ottawa-Kent (OK) Conference to form a new league: the River Cities Alliance. This significant shift marks one of the most dramatic changes in the conference’s 65-year history.
The Departure
The schools making the transition are Allendale, Cedar Springs, Coopersville, Greenville, Lowell, Kenowa Hills, and Sparta. Their departure is not just a reshuffling but a profound shift in the athletic landscape of the region. The decision follows months of discontent among these schools, who felt overshadowed and disconnected in the expanding OK Conference.
“I love the OK Conference,” said Pete Bush, the newly appointed commissioner of the River Cities Alliance. “It’s done an outstanding job at creating opportunities. I think, for the seven school districts in the River Cities Alliance, it just is the time where the conference has gotten very large. When you have a conference that has gotten as large as it has, I think some of the districts feel like maybe they don’t have a voice in some of the changes that happen.”
The departure of these schools, which will take effect in the fall of 2024, reflects both logistical concerns and a desire for closer rivalries. Bush highlighted the issues of travel and inconsistent rivalries as key factors in the schools’ decision to leave. “Travel is certainly a concern for some of the districts that are moving,” he said. “Then, obviously, creating that consistent rivalry that, you know, has been really hard, I think, to establish in some of the OK Conference realignments.”
The Vote and Its Implications
In April, the OK Conference conducted a vote to determine its next realignment, a process that occurs every four years. The result was a decisive 42-6 in favor of the new setup. Interestingly, four of the schools that voted in favor of the realignment are among those now leaving for the River Cities Alliance.
Typically, the OK Conference requires schools to either give two years’ notice or secure support from 75 percent of the conference to leave early. In this instance, neither condition was met. The recent vote saw 35 schools oppose the departure while only 13 were in favor, yet the seven schools proceeded with their decision regardless.
Dave Feenstra, commissioner of the OK Conference, expressed his disappointment. “It’s just a difficult situation for everyone,” he told FOX 17. Despite the breach of protocol, there are no formal penalties for schools leaving without adhering to the standard guidelines.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The OK Conference, established in 1958, has experienced only four prior instances of schools departing, each occurring in different years. The simultaneous exit of seven schools is described by Feenstra as “unprecedented.” He added, “I’m very disappointed and saddened by the result of that for all our member schools.”
In response, Pete Bush acknowledged the sentiment but maintained a collaborative stance. “I admire and respect them immensely,” Bush said. “We have nothing but the best of the OK Conference. I certainly want to continue to collaborate and work with them as best we can moving forward as well.”
Initially, a few additional schools had shown interest in joining the River Cities Alliance. However, discussions with these schools have stalled, and as of now, the alliance will consist solely of the seven departing schools during its inaugural season.
Looking Ahead
As the River Cities Alliance prepares for its debut, the West Michigan high school sports scene braces for a new chapter. The newly formed league aims to address the concerns of its member schools, providing them with a platform that reflects their values and needs more closely than the expansive OK Conference.
The OK Conference, now faced with the challenge of adjusting to these departures, will need to adapt its structure and realignment plans to maintain its competitive balance and community spirit. Both leagues will have the opportunity to redefine their roles in West Michigan high school athletics, and the next few years will be critical in shaping their futures.
With the River Cities Alliance set to begin in the fall of 2024, stakeholders from both conferences will be watching closely as the new league takes shape and the OK Conference responds to this significant change.